pi

1 of 5

noun (1)

ˈpī 

plural pis ˈpīz 

1

: the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet see Alphabet Table

2

a

: the symbol π denoting the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter

b

: the ratio itself : a transcendental number having a value rounded to eight decimal places of 3.14159265

pi

2 of 5

noun (2)

ˈpī 

variants or less commonly pie

plural pies

1

: type that is spilled or mixed

2

: a pi character or matrix

pi

3 of 5

verb

variants or less commonly pie

pied; piing or pieing

transitive verb

: to spill or throw (type or type matter) into disorder

intransitive verb

: to become pied

pi

4 of 5

adjective

variants or less commonly pie

1

: not intended to appear in final printing

pi lines

2

: capable of being inserted only by hand

pi characters

PI

5 of 5

abbreviation

1

Philippine Islands

2

private investigator

3

programmed instruction

Examples of pi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The 314 Action Fund, a name intended to evoke the math formula for pi, added its backing to those seeking to elevate Kelly, who is an engineer and former astronaut. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 26 July 2024

Here’s how Title IX rules that expand LGBTQ+ protections blocked in many Arizona schools Other unusual world records Largest human pi symbol: Westwood High School math teacher, Elizabeth Ruiz, gathered 2,036 people to create the largest human pi symbol in celebration of Pi Day on March 8, 2023. —Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 5 Aug. 2024

Vance’s journey from a ‘Never Trump’ guy to Trump’s VP pick Trump chooses Sen. J.D. Vance, a former critic, as his vice-presidential pi... His illness Wednesday comes as a covid summer wave washes over much of the United States. —Fenit Nirappil, Washington Post, 17 July 2024

In math terms, pi is the circumference (the distance around the outside of the circle) divided by the diameter (the distance edge-to-edge of a circle when measured through the center). —Cathy Kozlowicz, Journal Sentinel, 6 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle Greek, from Greek pei, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew pē pe

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1889, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Adjective

circa 1940, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing pi

• pi-meson

Kids Definition

pi

noun

ˈpī

plural pis

ˈpīz

1

: the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet

—Π or π

2

a

: the symbol π representing the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter

b

: the ratio itself having a value of approximately 3.1416

Legal Definition

P&I

1 of 2 abbreviation

principal and interest

PI

2 of 2 abbreviation

private investigator